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Local Government

Articles in this section cover Bloomington city council, the mayor's office, Monroe County's board of commissioners, county council, and all the other local units.

Convention center construction bids OK’d under budget, but sewer standoff simmers with City of Bloomington Utilities

Convention center construction bids OK’d under budget, but sewer standoff simmers with City of Bloomington Utilities

Monroe County’s CIB got good news about the final round of bids for the convention center expansion. The total for construction contracts landed under the $52-million budget. But Wednesday’s good news was tempered by a report about the status of sewer line negotiations between the CIB and CBU.

Letter from Monroe County to state lawmakers in limbo as jail size could face fresh look

Letter from Monroe County to state lawmakers in limbo as jail size could face fresh look

Debate about the wording of a letter from Monroe County to the state legislature asking for changes to state tax law might now include the question of whether to send a letter at all. There’s also now a question about rethinking the scope of the planned new justice center.

Bloomington tightens wastewater rules, aligns local stormwater regs with state law

Bloomington tightens wastewater rules, aligns local stormwater regs with state law

At its Wednesday night meeting, Bloomington’s city council updated local regulations on wastewater and stormwater by enacting two separate ordinances. Hydromechanical grease traps are added to the list of approved devices for fat, oils, and grease management.

Bloomington extends tax break for troubled low-income housing complex, citing ’factors beyond the control of the property owner’

Bloomington extends tax break for troubled low-income housing complex, citing ’factors beyond the control of the property owner’

Union at Crescent, a 5-story affordable housing development with 146 units in the northwest part of Bloomington, will continue to receive a tax abatement. The city council concluded that “any failure to substantially comply was caused by factors beyond the control of the property owner.”

At press conference, Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson says ‘other jurisdictions’ are sending homeless people to Bloomington

At press conference, Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson says ‘other jurisdictions’ are sending homeless people to Bloomington

Mayor Kerry Thomson said at a press conference on Tuesday that other Indiana jurisdictions were sending homeless individuals to Bloomington, claiming that an influx of nonresidents was straining city services. She declined to specify which jurisdictions have sent people to Bloomington.

Indiana Supreme Court to hear Bloomington annexation case

Indiana Supreme Court to hear Bloomington annexation case

Bloomington will argue one of its annexation cases in front of the Indiana Supreme Court on Oct 30. The case affects five of the annexation areas. It’s not about the merit of the city’s desire to annex those areas but about the constitutionality of a 2019 law.

3rd Street sidewalk needs $86K fence fix—cost jumps for full rebuild

3rd Street sidewalk needs $86K fence fix—cost jumps for full rebuild

It will take another month before the sidewalk along the north side of 3rd Street from Walnut Street up to the B-Line Trail is open again. At Tuesday night’s meeting of Bloomington’s board of public works a contract increase with Specialties Company was approved, from $17,500 to $86,500.